A police escort helped return the body of a fallen police officer to New Bern this afternoon, while funeral arrangements have now been set.

Officer Alexander Thalmann died Monday afternoon at Vidant Medical Center, two days after being shot at Craven Terrace.

The motorcade, made up of New Bern, Greenville, Pitt County and Highway Patrol cruisers, escorted the white hearse through Greenville and down Highway 43 shortly after 12:30 p.m.

A Greenville Fire-Rescue ladder truck extended an American flag over the roadway, while Pitt County Sheriff Neil Elks and several Greenville police officers saluted as the hearse passed by.

In New Bern, several people bowed their heads as the motorcade arrived at Cotten Funeral Home on Neuse Boulevard about an hour later.

The Officer Alexander Thalmann Memorial Fund has been created at First Citizen's Bank. Those wishing to contribute can go to any First Citizens branch in Craven, Pamlico, Pitt, Carteret and Beaufort counties.

At police headquarters in New Bern, a police cruiser is draped in black, while people have been leaving flowers and other memorials for Thalmann.

A community vigil to remember Officer Thalmann was to be held Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. at Union Point Park in New Bern. That will no longer take place. Instead, a wreath laying ceremony will take place at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the New Bern Police Department. His funeral will be held at 2:00p.m. Friday at Temple Baptist Church in New Bern.

The 22-year-old had been a police officer for just seven months, and was also a lance corporal in the Marine Corps Reserves. He graduated last year from the BLET program at Beaufort County Community College.

Police say Thalmann was wounded by a man he had stopped to question, who then ran away from Thalmann and another officer and shot them.

Investigators say Bryan Stalling of New Bern died after officers returned fire. Officer Justin Wester was also wounded in the gunfire, but he was released from Vidant on Saturday.

The SBI is continuing to investigate the shooting.

Previous Story

A New Bern police officer who was shot Friday night has died.

22-year-old Officer Alexander Thalmann has died, according to the Pitt County Medical Examiner's Office. The officer was shot Friday night at Craven Terrace in New Bern.

The chief said Officer Thalmann died at 1 p.m. Monday at Vidant Medical Center with his family around him.

Chief Summers said Thalmann was with the department for seven short months, but that Thalmann's dedication and service to the community was evident from his first day on the job.

The chief said Officer Thalmann leaves behind not only co-workers, but friends and a brotherhood of officers committed to serving the community as he did.

Mayor Dana Outlaw spoke to WITN from his city hall office, just minutes after the news conference. "New Bern grieves with the family and will continue to as we try to get through this," said Outlaw.

Police say Thalmann was wounded by a man he had stopped to question, who then ran away from Thalmann and another officer and shot them.

Investigators say Bryan Stalling of New Bern died after officers returned fire. Officer Justin Wester was also wounded in the gunfire, but he was released from Vidant on Saturday.

Thalmann was a 2010 graduate of Washington High School and was also a Marine Corps reservist.

"I had an opportunity to meet him on several occasions," said the mayor. "He was a fine young man. I have children that age, so it brings it all more home to me. We'll work through this. Our sympathy and condolences to the family."

Late Monday afternoon, Governor Pat McCrory issued a statement on Thalmann's death. “My heart is broken for Officer Thalmann and his loved ones,” said the governor. “Officer Thalmann had just begun his public service career and the loss of his life in the line of duty is tragic. Our first responders are true heroes and we shouldn’t let a day go by without praying for their safety and thanking them for their valued service to North Carolina.”

Thalmann is the third New Bern police officer to die in the line of duty, according to recent records. On Christmas Day 2001, Detective Donald Miller was shot and killed by a man driving recklessly at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. Miller was leaving the hospital with his wife who just had a baby.

The Medical Examiner's Office says an autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow.

New Bern officials say there has been no update in the condition of an officer shot late Friday night at Craven Terrace.

Officer Alexander Thalmann remains at Vidant Medical Center.

Police say the 22-year-old was one of two officers shot by a suspect during a foot chase in New Bern Friday night.

Thalmann is a 2010 graduate of Washington High School.

Chief Toussaint Summers Jr. said both Thalmann and Officer Justin Wester were hit in a gunfire exchange with 35-year-old Bryan Stallings.

According to police, Thalmann and Wester were questioning Stallings following a stop when Stallings ran from them. During the chase, officials said Stallings opened fire hitting both officers. Police said the officers returned fire, killing Stallings.

Chief Summers said Officer Wester was already treated and released from the hospital.

On Monday morning, New Bern Police and city officials would only say there was no update to share on Officer Thalmann's condition, but said he was still hospitalized.

Officials with Camp Lejeune told WITN Thalmann is a Lance Corporal with the Marine Corps Forces Reserve. We’re told that Thalmann is a warehouseman with the Combat Logistic Battalion 451 out of Raleigh.

A family friend said Thalmann has served two tours of duty in Afghanistan. Officials did not have information on how long Thalmann has served, but said it was within four years.

The State Bureau of Investigation is now working on the officer-involved case.

District Attorney Scott Thomas said all initial indications show the shooting was justified by the officers.

PREVIOUS STORY:

New Bern Police have identified the suspect they say shot two officers before being fatally shot by those officers.

Officials have identified the suspect as 35-year-old Bryan Stallings of Old Pollocksville Road in New Bern.

Chief Summers says that Wester was treated and released from Vidant Medical Center.

Chief Summers says that Officer Thalmann stopped a suspicious man in the area of Craven Terrace around 11:45 p.m. Friday. Officials say Officer Thalmann called for backup, and Officer Wester arrived on scene. We’re told that while officers questioned the suspect, the man bolted and the officers gave chase. During the chase, Chief Summers says that the suspect fired, injuring the officers. Chief Summers says that the officers returned fire, killing the suspect.

Chief Summers says that the suspect has been identified and they are working to notify his family.

Chief Summers read a quote from District Attorney Scott Thomas who says that, “all initial indications are that the shooting was justified and that the officers acted properly under the circumstances.”

The SBI is investigating the case. Officials expect the investigation to take two weeks.

Chief Summers says that the two officers were transported by EMS on the ground because bad weather prevented transport by air.

Wester has been with the department since November of 2012, while Thalmann has been there since August of 2013.

"Our prayers are with everyone touched by this event and we hope the two officer have a complete recovery," said Thomas in a press release.

----------------------Previous Story:

New Bern Police Chief Toussaint Summers is scheduled to make a statement on the shooting of 2 of his officers Friday night.

Chief Summers will be making the statement at Greenville Police Headquarters.

The two officers were taken to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville following the shooting.

We will have the latest information here on WITN.com as Chief Summers speaks.

--------------------Previous Story:

Mayor Dana Outlaw provided an update to the officer-involved shooting, where two police officers were shot and a suspect was killed.

Officials say that New Bern Police Chief Toussaint Summers will be holding a press conference at the Greenville Police Department at 3 p.m. The two officers were transported to Vidant Medical Centerafter Friday night's shooting.

Mayor Outlaw, speaking on behalf of Chief Summers this afternoon, says that the suspect died at the scene.

The SBI is continuing their investigation.

There were few new details released at the noon conference.

WITN will have a reporter at the Chief Summers conference and will provide the latest details as they happen.

Previous Story:

The SBI has been called in to investigate a shooting in New Bern where a suspect was shot and killed, and two police officers were also shot.

Police say that at about 11:45 Friday night police stopped a subject in the Craven Terrace neighborhood to question him. Officers say the suspect attempted to flee, but was apprehended. They say the suspect exchanged gunfire with police before he was shot and killed.

Reports say two officers were also shot during the incident. Their conditions are not available, but officials say they were transported to Vidant in Greenville.

The neighborhood where the shooting happened is just a few minutes from the police station.

We will bring you the latest on this developing story as new information becomes available.

We encourage commenting on our stories to give you a chance to express your opinion. We rely upon the online community to report abuse. Repeat violators may be banned from posting comments.
CLICK HERE for the witn.com guidelines for posting comments.

Online Public Information File

Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or fccinfo@fcc.gov.